The Wall Street Journal highlighted Staten Island's Mike Grimm among a growing number of newcomers being recruited to capitalize on the "anti-incumbent, anti-Washington" fervor nationwide.
News Copy met Grimm this weekend at the New York State Conservative Party's political action conference. Grimm came across as a solid campaigner who is poised to raised a significant sum of money in a district once held by former Republican Congresswoman Susan Molinari.
More important, the article notes how Grimm and other newcomers are working closely with tea party volunteers.
"... The district, in the New York City borough of Staten Island, has one of the most active Tea Party groups in the nation. While the group doesn't endorse candidates, Mr. Grimm seeks counsel from local Tea Party leader Frank Santarpia. "I pick his brain all the time," Mr. Grimm said.
Mr. Santarpia said he likes the idea of newcomers running for Congress. "There's a great deal of appeal to that. It certainly appeals to me," he said .,, "
However, the article fails to highlight a number of close competitive congressional districts around New York that should be attracting attention.
Races in the 19th, 20th, 23rd, 24th and 25th have remained under the radar while the following races are being touted by Republicans in Washington.
Insiders around the state are warning News Copy that New York hasn't generated the same excitement as other states.
The reason?
More of a focus by Republicans on reclaiming the New York State Senate ...
... And a reticence on the part of donors to support Republicans mired in the same divisive traps that plagued last year's 23rd Congressional race.
Conservatives could be fielding candidates -- ably supported by tea party groups -- who Republicans have so far failed to promote around New York.
The rest are self-starters like Bob Grimm or Doug Hoffmann in the 23rd.
Ironically, the argument has been put forth that internal support by the NRCC or the RNC or even the State GOP is not welcome.
Many outsiders would prefer not to be tagged as the "insider" candidate.
They're running away from establishment support.
Are they also going to run away from the Republican Party or will there be cooperation between tea party candidates and G.O.P. operations?
"Running political newcomers is a proven strategy when the political tide swings drastically toward one side, and at times when voters have soured on Washington in general. In 1994, when Republicans won a majority of House seats after four decades in the minority, 55% of the party's 73 freshmen lawmakers had never held political office. Similarly in 2006, when Democrats took control, 45% of their new lawmakers had never held office before."
Perhaps it is more of a Pogo moment ("I have seen the enemy and it is us"). Newt Gingrich's Contract With America changed the Congress from Democrat to Republican in 1994. Two years later, when Speaker Gingrich was the establishment, Gingrich found himself ousted by the same revolution he had started,
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